Civil Aviation Administration of China
China
Strict or complexReal-name registration and controlled-zone complexity
China is not a simple bring-and-fly destination. Registration, activation, identification, controlled zones, city/security rules, and app access can all affect whether a travel drone is usable.
Bring it
Do not assume a drone bought outside China can be activated, registered, or flown legally without local account and zone clearance.
Register it
Use CAAC registration/UOM-style systems and current manufacturer/app prompts before flight. Foreign account and SMS access can be a practical blocker.
Fly it
CAAC real-name registration has long applied to civil UAS over 250 g, and newer CAAC standards tighten registration, activation, and identification expectations.
Map check
Check CAAC/UOM, DJI/geozone data as a secondary reference, local police/security rules, airports, military areas, borders, and scenic-site policies.
Before you travel
- 01Confirm CAAC registration and activation requirements before travel.
- 02Check controlled/no-fly zones for each city or scenic area.
- 03Use local production or legal support for paid/commercial shoots.
Operating notes
- Max altitude
- Common low-risk limits are around 120 m AGL, but zones, category, and local approvals can override that.
- Recreational
- CAAC real-name registration has long applied to civil UAS over 250 g, and newer CAAC standards tighten registration, activation, and identification expectations.
- Commercial work
- Commercial filming should be treated as local-permit and production-coordination work, especially in cities, scenic areas, and controlled airspace.
- Airspace
- Check CAAC/UOM, DJI/geozone data as a secondary reference, local police/security rules, airports, military areas, borders, and scenic-site policies.